Index or information rack.



lW.. P. DE SAUSSURE, Jn. v1: G. S. TIFFANY. mnnxo INFORMATION RACK. APPLIUATIOH FILED HSE24.' 1913.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

l 2 BHEETSSHBBT 1.

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Attest: nventow W. P. DE SAUSSURE, Jn. 6a G. S. TIFFANY.

INDEX OR INFORMATION BACK. APPLIUATION FILED P23124. 1913.

1,1 106,344. Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

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BART JEAN 5 BEAD A BILKINS' WM- lLLwe. .ros x ,NM

BLAS?. 925;

Inventors D1 www/u Stimmen sraifsswrarnnr omiten.

WILLIAM DE SATISSURE, JR., F ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, AND GEORGE S. TIFFANY, OF lSJ'lIlllIll'll, NEW JERSEY; SAID TIFFANY ASSIGNOR, BY IHESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

SAID DE sansstrnn.

.Lied-see.

To all whom 'it may concern:

-33e it known .thatl We, WILLIAM P. Dr. SAUssUaE, Jr., and GEORGE S. TIFFANY, elti- .zens of the United States residing, respectively, at Englewood Clilis, Bergen county, New Jerseyiand Summit, Union county, `New Jersey,'have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Index or Informaj tion Racks, lffully described and represented loin the folldvving specification and the ziecompanying drawing, forming a part oi' the seme.

Our invention relates to index or information racks, and more particularly to a type of sectional rack of variable capacity ad a pt ed to have the index elements changed as de' sired, so to especially adapt the rack for use as directory for hotels, buildings `or other analogous purposes.

The main object ofthe invention is to provide an index or information rack where- 1n separate sheetsor cards are earrled by independently removable' holders which may be inserted at or removed from any point of the rack so that the entire capacity of the rack ma he utilized and the removal ot any index s ieet or card will leave no blank spaces in the rack.

A further Objectis to provide a rack `of 80 this character wherein index sheets or cards ot' light weight may be used so to permit the `simultane-ous production ot a plurality of such sheets or cards by means of car bons, or other duplicating means, thus simplifying the labor of preparing index cards for a plurality: of raeksfsuch as are ordinarily used in a hotel.

A still further object is to provide an index or information rack wherein thecard i 40 holders Will be nested in a manner to exthe rack and yet be capable of being quickly placed therein or removed therefrom Without ren'ioviingr any other holder from the rack.

A still further object to provide; an index orinliorl-nation rack of this character Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led February 24, 1913.

Innen on INroRMArIoN Raon.

Faten'ted Aug. 4, 1914. semi ne. 750,269.

i wherein the various sheet or card holders will he so inter-locked as to prevent the removal of any one ot them without first disengaging it from the adjoining holder.

A still further object is to provide a rack of this character wherein thenested index sheet or card holders may be divided into independently operative, groups so as to permit the hai'idling of one group without disturbing or handling other grouis, thus facilitating the insertion or remova.. of different holders.

A still further object to provide a rack ot' this character wherein the partitions or supports defining the size of the dillerent groups may be adjusted in the frame'to vary the size olt' suoli groups.

A still further object is to provide a rack of this character wherein,v in addition to the index sheets or cards, signal cards may he used and exposed in ay manner to indicate that special attention to any particular index sheet or card is required. i

A still further object 'is to provide airiiolg,

of this character wherein all oi the sheet-or card holders when, in the nested position will he firmly held against displacement through.

a support or prrtition looked to the frame oi' the rack. and the interlockinq means carried bythe various independent holders. And a still further object isfto provide a' rack of this character which .may he speedily made up or changed, and wherein the various indices or information sheets or cards may be inserted in a` manner to permit an al' phabetical or c lironologieal listing without disturbingV the order of the entire rack. y

The invention consists primarily in an in-' dex or ii'itorniation raglc embodying,r therein a frame. a plurality of independently removable holders mounted therein, and means carried by each said holder whereby an iudex sheet or -card may be dotarhably mounted therein; and in such other novel features ol construction and combination ol parts as are lureinaitt-,r set forth and described. and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the, drawings:--Figure l is a,

e. Fig'. e is a vertical secion oi' seeiion shown in Fig 3, with the index oi @ed iioiders removed therefrom; 5 is" a. detaii 'View in section showing* thaise ce'ff holders inposiwiion suppoze oi snppoit Fig: 6 is e front View of one oi' 'the lioideifs, showing the mannez'vo' mou" 11g ehe index card or sheet -thew il; Figi'. 7 is n side `View of one of the 1g hoiee; i3 is e veticel sceiion of *ehe hoife 'with e. index. cmd o1' sheet therein; .Fig i? is horizont@ section teken on iine 19W@ i; 10 is e 'iioiisontei sec- `tion of the on Eine 10e-10 of Fig., @showing one oi he ecijusmbie snppoiie; Fw' V one of the special' uns o iframe und index sheet yeiei no iike iheoughout si views.

embodiment oi oniK invention "is:im/'ings7 we peovide u strncng e plurality of units oi' jnoiuie ns izo permi' 'the increase 1eme oi? the numbei of these units 'at @me impaieing 'no the sti'nozm'e exiilliy or einsticity, as to the capacity iQ-beyond that expensioiiity and elasm'heien to each unit bv reason of ae'movehi "ey of the indi idnai card hoideeu Th: c units o1' frames are indioai'efi in Fig. l as 1, 2, and 3, end erich prei.q emisiy comprises side mils a simi af connect ei-i by ie rods of?, the iiop a? and 'the bese oi v-fiion (i nstincon not only permits yi "ty oi"s iframe, 'but :it the Les in :L siifnotziie e'' iight @n opposie si s o eaeli 'oni oi' fiume ,s Y fei''ioey i enfimg side finnges Z eno o. one of which :is in the pv. vieri form o'f 'the invention, is provided iii an overhoop; fungge o aciapted to iioi'c'l indepenciently moi/Abi@ holders in posiimi upon ie 'By this constiuction, we pi'ovife means whereby the accidental displucemenf *of any holder is pievente, and also afford e bearing surface against whioh the boitiers may rest and upon which they mali/,have movement in inserting a holder in, or removing i1; from, the frame. The top a3 proieos across the channel forme@ by the flanges o and c and thus prevents snfcient vertieui movement of the indivinal holders to permit the escape. thereof from the frame.

The bottom end of the frame is adapted to seated in :i channeled keeper d Awhich is seeui'edin any desired relation, as to e Wall, byl the brackets el', "che frame being tilted baekwardly so :is to Tesi against the wel! or other support and thus canse all of 'Home n 1g. l2 is View showing eine hoideife to bear uponthc'ieils bc, oir* meeeee di may be of :my fiesiiei length to edmi; o the expansion of th?, i'aok io any desired extent 'by the addition of imiils or ames iweqiiifed.

in oon'j iioeion Wieii eacfi unie or iamef, We provide piuiaiity oi ineiepenentiy re moiaoie homers 'oi' index sheets oi @envoisa adapted to seat between, the .flanges `b and c and be positioned in the iiame thereby., These hoicers are of uniform size and channeiei keeper mation and, are adapted to e any portion of the ifieme and 'to oe so nested together as toineme eompzwmess in the index, Whiie aorcing ampie space for the incineion upon the sheet or Geerd of expie-neiorcy me1- ter o any kind which Wiil ooi: be exposeto To enable index sheets oms to be hei extemie in sai iiodeis, 'form erich of `Jehem with e beck plete Ae having from supporeing' and reeining iiengge ja exen ing; upward iom 'the lower edge iheiee, flange being nest of such length emi heighe or widties to 'hog the sheet oi' oerdjoiose ageins'; the 'fece of the piete e. steneion, incie; sileeits o1' Cenis' oi" nexioe light-weight peper may be needi eiine iitting ,fhe use of carbon sheets oi' oiiei duplicating means to produce the initier upon sevelal index sheets or cords miniem neousi 'Uppositely disposed to the taining flange f is e iienge g preieecing Wsrzdy from the pifite e.; which Heilige the threeir'oii function of promoting the top of bhe index sheet o1' Garfi, :iiding in hoifiinj it in piace, emi serving es a in er one more supports when inseizing supports in, or :removing them ffom, the Emme or unit. The eiicis of 'beck pieie e adapt-ed 'to one ancien' the ifmgge b and 'the einer Within ifhe fzmge c, ooh enos ,when the holder in position seating on the bearings within the and ci Piojecing ,from ehe beek of the piante ,f is en npweiiy opening keepenoi soekoc j, which keeper is aape to receive end tain the, iowei' pari', of *the holdei next above ii; and interlock eherewiizh in e nimmer ivo prevent, in conjunction with the @enges i :mei c., the reino el of any holder un ess the holder next above has been misled to ideen gege it therefrom. By forming" and nesting the homers in this wey any beekweif. 'm'essin'e on a'- 'iolder in lifting ot' iaising it Wiil be away from the 'holder beiow so iet thee Wii be no tendency of aciioining holders eo bind es one or more of the holders nee raised to permit the removal or insertion of another or others n; any-point of the frame.

To heid the botiom hoider in position and to pieveng fne -iiitiifxg of one siffle of all of the hoiriei's in e, column geen? of hoders siimiitaneo'usiy, we provide nit iie bo'xaoin of keine .e supplire oiifne with o'ciing nieuwe means which may consist of a pocket formed by oppositely disposed tongues or plates 71:, lc

jcariied by the base a", which pocket is adapted .to receive the lowermost holder :of the group and hold itl in position. 'The forward tongue-or plate 7c may be of a height to conl ceal `the major portion of the lower-most support sons to leave only the top of it exposed for index purposes. The tongue or plate k is inclined forwardly relatively to the frame and the -rear tongue or plate Ic is of a height to enga e the socket or keeper j of the lower-most older so as to` hold it tilted forward at an angleto the frame so that the next holder when slid dow'. intoplace will enter-behind the lowermost holder and take its. position properl with its lower edge within the socket oreeper of the lowermost holder. The construction of this support is shown moet eleafilyin Figs. 5 and 9. Y

. iV-lien it is desired to separate the column of holders in the frame into one oi'- more iiidependeiitly operative groups, we provide detachable, adjustable partitions or supports having oppositely disposed tongues or plates l and Z,such supports being ada' ted to be secured in desired position toit e rails a l so and aby bolts m and a clamping plate m.

The plates Z and Z -form a" pocket similar to` 'that formed by the tongues or plates Il: and cand have the same function and inode of operation, The construction of these adjustable supports or partitions and themanlner of adjusting them upon the rack is best shown in Figs. 4 and 10.

While in actual practice We prefer to use the'` forinfof support and frame heretofore described, if udesired this may be modified, as shownin Fig. 12, by providing each side rail of the forni with overliung retaining flanges asshown at b and cv When using a frame of this 'censtruet'iom the holders may be inserted and removed by being so constructed as to permit a rotative movement `thereof"within the flanges b and c', as by .forming-them with'their ends curved on au are about a central point.

f live' prefer the form of the invention -I shown in 7Figs`."-.l'to l0, however, because it permits the removal or insertion of `a single holder with nn upward movement thereof sullicient nierely'to clear the socket oil keeper of the next lower holder, thus avoiding excessive space at the top of each frame or A`unit to allow for. the movement of the upper holdersnecessary to permitthe disengagement of the holder to be removed or the insertion .o't' another holder.

Under some conditions of use, it is desirable to provide special service signals to call to the attention ot' the-.user that certain indexsheets or cards require special attention, To meet this requirement, we provide K siglial cards which should ditl'er in color 'or character from the main index sheet shown in Figs. l and E2.

and mounted in the holders.

visible when the holder is nested with others I in thefraine, while covering' only a part, and preferably only a small-part, of the sheet oi' card to which it is applied. Such signal cards may he of the form shown in Fig. 11 or oi' othersuitable shape. A signal card of the form shown will appear as shown at s in Fig. 3 when in' use. By the usc of sucha signal sheet or card, the attention of a clerk is directed to the matter to which the signal relates before anyservice is given to or affecting the person indicated by the index ,card or sheet to which hike signal card is applied.

In the use of our iinprovediiulex or information rack, the channel (Z is installed in any desired relation and one or more units or frames mounted therein in the manner wWhen it is desired to ninke up an index, the` sheets-orV cards, which in the drawings are' indicated at (1, are made out by a clerk lVhen a number of the holders have been 4thus equipped, they may be arranged in alphalie't'ical or chronological or. any desired order in a frame or unit, with the lowei'niost holden seated within the pocket Vformed of the base support or of an adjustable support as the oase' may he, and each succeedingr higher holder seated in the socket (ir-keeper ofthe next lower holder. .ln mounting them in the frame oi nuit in this manner, the holders may he nested so as to install a number ol? them at a time, or they may be independently mounted in the frame or unit.

When making up the index, whether the 10i holders be handled singly or in groups, one ciid'thereoi is inserted umleithe overhungf -laiige b and the other end dropped within the ol'iposiloly disposed. parallel, vertically extending' flange fr, the holders when in this 11@ position being merely allowed to drop to place. When once in place, the nested holders will be held by the pocket of the support and by the inter-.locking ol' the holders in such a w'ay as to avoid the liftingiof the end 115 of any ho'ldcr oiholdcrs adjacent the open fiange o from the seat 'therefor upon the frame until such holder has been in'iscd so as to clear the next lower holder.

Any desired number of holders may be 12 used in a frame, within the capacity oi the frame, -and the holders may be removed and inserted singly oi iu groups as required, and

the space normally occupied thereby filled by allowingy the upper holders of a group io 12g drop downwardly 'fro-ni their Jformer position. or another holder may he substituted 'for the om` i'ciiiovod.

lo i'eiiiovc :i single holder from a group. the .holder immediately above' the one to be 130 removed is raised liano., elle ienge hij' to be reino'vedl 'il/'lienell these holders have been raised in y :is manner, the holder to be remove, is alex, raised, l'ie end elle holder .and above che o enel elle changed, and 'Elie alphabetical or .filing more 'than -two of the 25' next flange o being reisefl from its seat moved laterally izo Corry its other end clean* othe ienge Ff" ihnsv'permieting ille loolrler io be removed rroni the' ironie l if it is desired to' remove info or more holders oft' e, time, elle operation is ine sommi. excepting hat `all of the liolrlere te be re moved, are simultaneously-reiee from the next lower. holder noi/'to be removed, and then morerl to clear glie iisingfe @enel overliung ange o? in Une manner above erred to. u n

By. the construction herein eleeorilieol, one

inflei; raelr may be quickly mene "up or cal order be preservedwihout l'iolrlere for in sertion or removal of en index eoeel or card, the'lmnflling of onel of lliesefnolilers .neenlta ing in 'Lilie simultaneous 'movement of ell oil the honirlers tliereabove in one group.

The holders are preferably made envole from a single metallic blank to insure,- eoonomy of prorlnotion' as Well as ligliw es in the Weight of the holders. 'The holders being uniform in size and seating eeen posi-. tively against the bottom of the s'oelret or keeper of the holder below it, ille height of :1` column olf liolers standing in Clie freine will' be very exactly proporeionete to number oil' holders in lie columnL The nimm ber of holders in the 'freine may `thee be rea-lily determined :by simply' measuring height of che colinnn. Vlien e plurality of our holders :1re mounted in n iframe, lille index portion thereof only ie expoee, the greater port-ion of tlieholelers overlapping one another in e manner to permit e. large number of suoli lo be nsel in a, single freine. The use of e plurality of nnivis-or iframes is merely for lie purpose o permitting lille exnnnsion of en inde): sys-ern es required.

It is not our intention to limi?, the inven tion to the precise fleziiley of construction shown in the accompanying drawings, it-

being apparent that suoli may be varied without departing from tbe spiritnd scope of the invention :is defined in the claims. What is claimed is: l. An index or information rack embody ing therein av frame. e, plurality of independently removable liolrlers mounted in the Vfreine in suoeeesively abutting positions,

means for retaining the holders normally in position in die frame Comprising moans oerriesl' by' the frame for looking one of seid holders in position and nlerloolring means carried by the holders, end-Ineens carrier?. by

enen holder whereby/en infiel: or e ere oly in the freine between sind may be eletaoliably/niounoe Ilierein,

ing therein e freine, n 'plnrefli'ty oizinile 1 v y w pendently removable loolrlers elle? my in successively @boiling posiione, ineens retaining the holders norrnelly nipoeie rame comprising ineens-y eermeoi y the 'frame for locking; one of eend heldere, position eno interlocking; ineens corrieri holder whereby an inclex sheer, or Carel moy be (leeeolieloly monneol slle'renczt ing "eherein .e zgoerelll' flanges leestone oi? Wlnelr .l indepenenly remover le slile monnecl beneath oyen-hong nml Lwne, 10ans or "loing ,5b. alero non molly in poe vin ironie eor means: carried by the of seid holders in posiiion and interlocking; menne earried by ille holders, and mez-ino carried oy each liolcler whereby ,en infiex' slxeei' or cord may be detaolialoly monnierl berein,

fl. in i; i or'information rack enibooly- IingI therein o, ironie haring siole flanges one oit' which lie-s an inwardly extending overhang and the other of which has no euch overhang, a plurality oi inflepenenlzly removable holders slidubly mounted in elle feelin/een seid @enges extending beneecli :iaifl overhang and 'reeling normally in successively abutting posiions, means' for retaining ,elle holders normally in position in the -frame comprising means carried by ,the frame looking; one of salici holders in jposiion and, intel-looking ineens oerriefl for' .elle liolflers, ,end means carried by eeen bolder whereby en index sheet or carri may be detecliobly' mounted therein.

5. An index or information ruoli embody ing` therein o, frame, Side 'flanges-thereon, ol'.- leost one of Wliiolg has en inwardly project ing overhang, e pluraliy of independently' removable liolrlers adapted lo be Qontrol 'and slide between said iengesenelextencl lie-- neoth seid overhang, and interlocking -means adapted to be rendered operative voi' inoperative by the sliding inovenieniA of Seial holders, cerriecl by said frame sind said holders, whereby all holders in a, frame normally helcl therein."

6. An index or informelion reolr embody: ing therein o frame, e, nlnmlii'y of, inelependenely removable holders nested in seid frame and overlapped. with @portion iliereof exposecl, index sheets-or cerdo removably mounted on seid heldere, and, signal sliee'te' or cards separeiqe 'from seid inclen sheets enel' ineens; carried by eeoliA l'. I y I a n n v eachy provided with interlocking and `positiondetermming means 'for cro-acting Awith cards and distinctive,therefrom removably mounted on one or'more ol said holders in front of said index sheet or card With a portion thereof exposed. f l 7 An index or information rack embody- ,ing thereinJ a, frame, a Ivilurality of independently removable holders mounted there-- on, a-soeket or keeper on each said holder adapted to receive and support an adjoining holder, means carried by said frame Whereby one of said holders is normally held therein, `and means carried 'by each said holder" .in said frame, the llovoeimostl ol .which is adapted to be seated in said pot-,liet and held lin said frame thereby, a socket or keeper on each said holder adapted. to receive and support an adjoining holder,y andV meanscarriedby each said-holder whereby an index sheet or Cardin-ay be detachably mounted thereon.

9. An index or intorn'mtion rack embodylng therein a frame, and means for holding aV series of index sheets or cards flatwisc in sald frame and overlapping to a 'predeterru'ined extent, said means including a series of independently removable card holders the next adjacent holder.

10. An `index or information rack embodyv ingl'therein a f-ram'ehaving parallel side flanges at least one of which-has an 1n- Wardly extending overhamg` and means for .holding a series oi the index sheets or cards ','atwise in said frame and overlapping to a predetermined extent, said means including a series of independently removable card holders each provided with interlocking and position determining means for co-aeting with the next adjacent holder and being formed to be slidnbly seated on the frame between said side :flanges and to extend beneath said overhang.

lLAn index or information rael: embodying therein a frame having parallel side llangzes oneof which has an inwardly extending overhang and the otherA of which has nosuch overhang. and meansf'or h olding a series of index sheets or cards flatwise Ain said-frame and overlapi'iing to a predetermined extent, said means including a.

Aseries of independently lremovable card holders e'aeh provided with interlocking and position determining means for (ro-acting with the next ad]acent holder, said holders i being formed to Seaton said frame between said side flanges and to extend beneath said overhang, and the frame being provided removable holders slidably mountedwith means for holding the first holder of the series in position in the frame.

1 2. -An index or information rack Iembodying therein a frame, and means` for holding a series of index sheets or cards llatwise in said frame andoverlapping t0 a predetermined extent, 'said means comprising a series of independently removable card holders mounted to slide in the frame, each provided with interlocking and position determininfr means for oo-aeting with the next adj acentliolder and each having a lower upwardly extending supporting and retaining flange adapted to hold an index sheet or card in position in Vthe holderand an upper forwardly extending flange whereby the .holder may be raised to permit the placing or removal of an adjacent holder or holders y13. An index or information rack embodying therein a frame having a base, a pocket carried thereby, a plurality of independently removable holders slidably mounted in said. frame, the lowermost of which is adapted to be .seated in saidpoeket and held in said frame thereby, a` s ooketor keeper on each said holder ndaited 'to revolve and retain an adjoining holder, a support adjustable in said frame and earrying a poi-kel: adapted to receive and retain one of said holders, whereby the holders in'a,

frame may be divided into independently operative groups, means. whereby said d- 4justable support .maybe` adjusted onisaid trame .longitudinally thereof, and mezins carried by each said holder whereby an index sheet or card may be detachably mounted therein.

141-.An index or information rack emV bodying therein a frame having parallel side flanges, and means for holding a series of index sheets or cardsin said frame and overlapping to a predetermined extent, said means including a series of independently removable cardholders ear'h provided with interlocking and position determining means 'for oo-arting with thenext adjacent holder und being 'formed to be slidalzly seated'on the 'frame between said side lla egos, and the frame beingr luovided with means for holding the lowermost holder in position in the traine and with an adjustable holder. s upport for revolving 'and retaining one of the holders in position, said support being adjustable longitudinally of the frame Whereby the holders in the frame may be divided` into independently operative groups,

l5. A card or sheet holder formed of n. plate having means for holding a sheet or card positioned against the front face thereof, and a socket or keeper extending from the rear face thereof to receive an edge of a similar holder placed in position adjoining said holder. i

16. A card or sheet holder having a sheet sheet o? am@ und formed tocom a portlon 35 Wit fesses;

M W., Lomi@ Emma MUM 11g-e at its upper edge whereby 25 

